The tinny approached
the camp and slid up the bank at the waters edge, Yatimah let out a piercing
neigh and rushed forward, neck arched, nickering excitedly.
The researchers lifted the foal from the boat and placed it down in front
of Yatimah. The mare licked its lithe fine body and pressed her cheek
into its side encouraging it to have a drink. Needing no further help
the filly thrust her head beneath Yatimah stamping her tiny hooves and
butting the now very large bag of milk before drinking.
None the worse for her adventure the filly approached her two rescuers
with the nimble, light steps of a ballet dancer, she raised her little
brush of a tail as she trotted and galloped about stretching her legs
and squealing with joy.
Everyone laughed when she decided to rest and plopped down right at the
feet of the two men who saved her life and promptly fell asleep.

Three days later all
six people celebrated Easter admiring Yatimah's filly.
The researchers smiled saying. "We're no judge of horseflesh but
we think she's as near to flawless as a mortal creature can be."
Danika and Yatimah watched adoringly while the filly circled the group
at a high stepping springy trot, her large dark eyes sparkling with excitement,
her little ears so pointed at their sharp tips they almost touched.
"Her name should
be Buhera," Danika suddenly announced.
Everyone absently nodded, then looked at each other and questioned.
"What does Buhera mean?"
"It means 'lake'," Danika answered.
" Buhera, the water baby," everyone chanted happily.
Buhera answered
with a shrill squeal followed by giant leap into the air and another fast
lap of honour around her admirers.
The
End
Footnote:
"Lake Eyre National Park" covers an area of 1,349,251 hectares.
Water from its three-State catchment area covers the lake about once every
eight years on average. It has filled, or had water in it a number of
times in the twentieth century, including 1956, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1989
and 1997. Lake Eyre has filled to capacity only three times in the past
150 years. The most extensive flooding occurred in 1974 when the lake
filled to capacity with up to 34 cubic kilometers of water. On the infrequent
occasions that the lake fills with water, Lake Eyre is a breeding ground
for great masses of water birds which fly long distances to reach the
newly arrived inflow of water. Lake Eyre as of March 2004 is filling with
water for the first time in four years. The Channel country has also flooded
in 2004, the first time in seven years.
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